Instructors and participants knowledgeable about revs and happy to share information. Instructors were always positive and helpful. Participants were also positive and helpful. The benefit of participants helping you with a problem is it gives you a different perspective and you realize you are not the only one having problems. I shared some of my ideas on how I do something or an ahh-haa moment for me and it helped someone, this gave me a sense of satisfaction which also added to my positive experience.

Both groups were also very patient with others that did not have very much experience. This is very important especially when you are taking up someone else’s flying time because you (I) crashed or knotted up the group during team flying. It takes a cooperative and patient group to struggle through these times. I believe the instructors laid back attitude and “no troubles” philosophy also spilled over to the other flyers.

Team Flying. Everyone was very laid back and didn’t exclude anyone from team flying no matter their skill level. We were invited into groups – this is extremely important aspect. Many people do not feel comfortable approaching others, asking to join and it asking becomes more difficult as you watch others doing well and you do not believe you can do as well or you may “mess” them up. When a group asks you to join and you explain to them you might screw things up and they still encourage you to join it really makes you feel welcome and less afraid.

Synergy. Nothing like having a bunch of positive people having fun with one goal in mind.

I like small group instruction. We liked it when you broke us up into smaller skill groups. It was nice to have the instructors help us on our personal areas of trouble in small groups. The actual breaking up into the smaller groups was a little confusing and disorganized. We did not know which group to goto and when we got there some people looked like they were uncomfortable asking questions or participating. I really do not have an idea/solution for this but is was just an observation.

All in all we believe this was a very successful clinic. I think the main thing we would like to see changed is a little more structure. Would we participate in another clinic even if it had no changes? Heck yea. This was an excellent time for my daughter and I to bond doing something we enjoy. We came away with new skills, friends, and refined some old skills and rekindled old friendships.

We hope you and Iquad have continued success. And look forward to future clinics.

Please tell all the Iquad members thanks for their help and enthusiasm.

A&A

Since 2008, we have made a number of improvements to our clinic structure so that we’re able to work on smaller focus groups and get more personalized instruction for each student… In addition, the average base of team flying skill has increased so much that there are even more opportunities for newer fliers to find a group they are comfortable learning with, and all the mini-teams are genuinely patient and interested in making the environment as favorable to growth and comfort and possible.

Stay tuned for news on upcoming clinics, both in Long Beach and elsewhere!

I want to thank the members of iQuad. When we started talking about your being here in Utah, I had a vision of what you would do here, that was blown out of the water by what you did. Brought tears to my eyes on Sunday during the Stairway to heaven performance.

Thanks to all of you, most sincerely for a truly remarkable week end of kiting, socializing and educational adventures…

Kevin Bayless
Antelope Island Stampede

]]>http://www.teamiquad.com/i-had-a-vision-of-what-you-would-do-here-that-was-blown-out-of-the-water-by-what-you-did/feed/0“I immediately screamed the first time I saw it and yelled for my family to come see it.”http://www.teamiquad.com/i-immediately-screamed-the-first-time-i-saw-it-and-yelled-for-my-family-to-come-see-it/
http://www.teamiquad.com/i-immediately-screamed-the-first-time-i-saw-it-and-yelled-for-my-family-to-come-see-it/#respondWed, 22 Dec 2010 22:45:56 +0000http://www.teamiquad.com/?p=720

5/20/2008

“Thanks once again for blessing West Michigan with iQuad’s presence at the Grand Haven Kite Festival. I saw your demonstrations late afternoon on Friday and all day Saturday. I wanted more than anything to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed keeping up with your team over the past year via your website and videos posted on YouTube. If you remember, I wrote you after last year’s Michigan festival (which, by the way, I was so excited that you used my email on your website. I immediately screamed the first time I saw it and yelled for my family to come see it. Thank you!) that 2007 was the first year I’d been to a kite festival.”

“Flying is amazing. As long as the winds are right, I can lose absolute track of time. Once last year, I passed nearly 4 hours in what seemed just a few minutes. It’s so hard to put into words what I feel when I’m flying. And now that I FINALLY have my own kite, it’s even more awesome!”

Alicia BMichigan

]]>http://www.teamiquad.com/i-immediately-screamed-the-first-time-i-saw-it-and-yelled-for-my-family-to-come-see-it/feed/0“I was overwhelmed to the point of tears it was so amazing.”http://www.teamiquad.com/i-was-overwhelmed-to-the-point-of-tears-it-was-so-amazing/
http://www.teamiquad.com/i-was-overwhelmed-to-the-point-of-tears-it-was-so-amazing/#respondWed, 22 Dec 2010 22:19:48 +0000http://www.teamiquad.com/?p=715

May 20th, 2007

“I just got home from spending the weekend at the Kite Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan. This is the first ever kite festival I’ve been to. I never knew much about kite flying before this weekend and I can see how one can get hooked on this sport. I was truly and honestly stunned at the amazing talent and beauty of the kite demonstrations, one of my favorites being the iQuad team. I loved watched your team’s demonstrations. Each performance reflected your members’ amazing skill at handling the kites and together, the demos were a mixture of science, art, dance and beauty. I was overwhelmed to the point of tears it was so amazing. My 4-year old son really liked watching your team, too.”

“I just wanted to write and say thank you for helping to make this a magical weekend for my family. I’m going to be attending more kite festivals in the future and hope to get the pleasure of watching iQuad again.”